Best Foods in Mexico – Top Mexican Dishes to Try [2023]

Are you planning a trip to eat your way through the best foods in Mexico? Do you want to try something different other than the same old overstuffed burritos and crunchy tacos that you can get back at your local taco shop? 

We have visited Mexico multiple times, and we can say that it is easily one of the top culinary destinations in the world.

It’s a cuisine that is not only rich in its heritage but also wildly diverse with its unique regional specialties.

There are Mexican dishes that even pre-date the Mayans and the Aztecs that are still served at restaurants and at family celebrations today. In fact, UNESCO added Mexican cuisine to the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2010.

Mexican Food Guide: The Best Foods in Mexico

Tacos

The most popular food in Mexico is on the list because of the near-endless amount of fillings that you will find and the different forms that a taco can come in.

You will find versions made with multiple types of tortillas including harina (flour), maize (corn), and pan árabe (flatbreads) along with fillings ranging from spit-roasted meats to crispy fried fish.

You will even find variations that are rolled and cooked on a comal (clay griddle) till crispy. When visiting Mexico, make sure to try as many different types of tacos as possible that you haven’t tried before.

Mole

Mole is the national dish of Mexico but it really is more of a sauce than a stand-alone plate of food. Two main regions claim to make the best mole in Mexico, including Puebla and Oaxaca with their own variations and flavors.

Recipes for mole can have as many as 25 ingredients and can take as long as 12 hours to prepare from scratch.

The base of the mole is built around roasted dried chilis that impart a raisin-like flavor and aromas that are in some variations paired with dark rich chocolate that is harvested natively in several regions of Mexico.

Mole is traditionally served with roasted turkey, used to coat enchiladas, or stuffed inside tamales. 

Barbacoa

This dish is one part tender slow-cooked lamb or goat, and the other part is the rich and meaty broth made from the leftover juices from the meat.

Barbacoa is made by wrapping large cuts or the whole animal with banana leaves before being roasted and steamed inside of an underground oven where it is left to slow cook overnight.

The tender meat is then rolled up in corn tortillas with cilantro, and diced raw onion, and served alongside some fiery salsas.

Cochinita Pibil

This specialty from the Yucatan is traditionally made with suckling pig that is marinated with bitter oranges and annatto seed before getting wrapped up in banana leaves. An underground stone-lined oven roasts the pig until it’s tender.

The meat is then picked and remixed with the juices from the pig and the marinade before being made into tacos, salbutes, panuchos, tortas, and more. This makes a trip to the Mayan Riviera worth it on its own.

Chiles en Nogada

Chiles en Nogada is a seasonal relative to the chili relleno that is only served during the pomegranate and walnut season that extends from August through September.

This Mexican dish consists of a roasted and stuffed poblano chili that is filled with picadillo, which is a cinnamon and fruit spiced pork filling. It is then topped with a walnut sauce and fresh pomegranate seeds. 

Torta Ahogada

This is essentially Mexico’s answer to the french dip, but instead, the whole sandwich is submerged in a fiery hot sauce made with chili de arbol.

The sandwich starts with a roll called birote which has a crunchy exterior and a soft fluffy inside.

The bread is stuffed with tender pork called carnitas, a light slathering of refried beans, and some marinated raw onions.

You can find these sandwiches in big cities like Mexico City, but to get the best versions you will want to make a trip to where it came from in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Enchiladas

This may be the most famous food in Mexico, but the varieties and regional variances from around the country keep things interesting.

The dish starts with lightly fried tortillas that are then dipped in a sauce made of dried chilies.

Depending on where you are in the country, you can also have versions that are made with many types of mole, black bean sauce, salsa verde (green tomatillo sauce), suizas (cream-based), and sauces made with tomatoes.

You will find enchiladas that are simply rolled tortillas and some are stuffed with anything from roasted peppers to versions that simply use cheese.

Birria

If there is one traditional Mexican food that you need to try, it has to be this super meaty dish from Jalisco. Goat is slow-cooked in a pot for several hours with a slew of spices and dried chiles until the meat is fall off the bone tender.

The meat is then either served in a bowl with plenty of the consomme (broth) or it is made into tacos that are crisped on a comal. There is a version made with beef called birria de res if you are squeamish about eating goat.

Also, look out for the less traditional tacos where they add cheese and let it ooze out and get crispy on the comal.

Ceviche & Aguachile

Although the technique of “cooking” seafood with citrus juice was originally invented in Peru, it has been adopted by many regions of Mexico.

Ceviche can be made with almost any type of seafood ranging from fresh fish to octopus that is soaked in fresh citrus to change its texture as if it is cooked while still remaining very raw.

It is then tossed with tomatoes, onions, and jalapeno and topped with avocado.

Aguachile is simply fresh shrimp with a puree of lime, chilies, cucumber, and cilantro that is topped with raw onions. Both are extremely refreshing to eat especially on hot days near the coast. 

Typical Mexican Breakfast Foods

Chilaquiles

This classic Mexican breakfast dish consists of fried corn tortillas that are quickly cooked in either a red guajillo chile or a green tomatillo sauce. Crumbled fresh cheese such as cotija or queso fresco, sliced raw onion, and a generous sprinkling of cilantro are the typical garnishes.

The version with a sunny-side-up egg which adds a nice creaminess to the crunchy texture of the tortillas is our favorite. This hearty breakfast will help you over the hump if you sample a little too much Tequila or Mezcal the evening prior.

Tamales

This meal on the go has been a part of the cuisine of Mexico going back over 10,000 years to the Olmecs civilizations in the southern part of the country.

Tamales start with a masa which is a dough made from processing corn in an alkaline solution.

The resulting corn is mixed with lard and seasoned before it is spread on either a corn husk or a banana leaf.

Stuffing is then added and carefully rolled up, sealing in the filling inside the masa. They are then steamed before being sold by vendors on street corners and in markets across Mexico.

Mexican Soups | Popular Foods in Mexico

Pozole

This soup consisting of slow-cooked pork is one of the most beloved traditional Mexican food dishes.

The other major component of pozole is hominy which is corn that is soaked in water with limestones or wood ash in a process called nixtamalization that makes the kernels swell up and the coating dissolve.

The broth has a reddish-brown color and a smoky aroma from a trio of dried chilies.

Part of the fun of pozole is all of the accompanying toppings which can include shredded cabbage, radishes, chicharron, avocado, lime wedges, onion, cilantro, and tostadas. 

Menudo

This stew is made from the lining of the cow’s stomach called tripe which is cooked with dried chilies, oregano, onions, bay leaves, garlic, and other spices.

This rich hangover cure utilizes hominy as a form of starch and texture. It is then garnished with onions, oregano, limes, dried chilies, and served with a stack of soft corn tortillas.

Menudo is traditionally a ceremonial dish that is served for large celebrations including wedding receptions mostly because of its long cooking time. 

Mexican Street Foods & Snacks

Elote & Esquites

These street food classics can be found being served from carts all over Mexico. They serve as early evening snacks and are also a popular late treat after a few drinks at the bar.

You can either have the corn grilled on the cob or steamed and served in a cup. Mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, and cotija or queso fresco are the typical garnishes.

Chapulines

Of all of the dishes in Mexico, this is the one that will test even the most adventurous eaters. Chapulines (fried grasshoppers) are a staple of the cuisine of several regions of Mexico.

These protein-rich critters are a super healthy snack that adds a nice texture to dishes like guacamole.

In the markets in Oaxaca, vendors walk around with bowls of chapulines and will gladly give you a sample to try in order to allow you to verify the freshness and that they are still nice and crispy. 

Tlayudas

Also known as “Oaxacan pizza”, tlayudas start with oversized corn tortillas that can be as large as 16 inches across. This tortilla is grilled over a charcoal fire until crispy and slightly charred giving it a nice smokey flavor. It is filled with avocado leaf-flavored black beans and a stringy mozzarella-like cheese called queso de Oaxaca.

Each vendor serves their tlayudas with their own salsas and a combination of toppings and sides including favorites like epazote and roasted agua de chili peppers.

You can order your tlayuda with a side of grilled meat including tasajo (salt-cured beef), cecina blanca (grilled pork), cecina enchilada (chili marinated pork), and chorizo links.

Tlacoyo

This street food dish in Mexico is essentially a thick tortilla that contains a filling of cheese, beans, chicharron, fava beans, and sometimes meat.

The masa is cooked on a comal (griddle) and then topped with red or green salsa and sometimes a fresh cheese like queso fresco.

Modern and fancy versions are popping up at hip restaurants and cafes featuring elaborate garnishes featuring avocado, baby radishes, pumpkin seeds, and fresh herbs.  

Gorditas

The name of this dish literally translates to “little fat one” or “chubby” as the dough is formed into a fatter version of a tortilla.

Because the dough is thicker, it can be split open and stuffed with a variety of fillings that are often the leftover stews from the night before.

You can find gorditas at restaurants around Mexico that serve them with fillings ranging from chicharron en salsa verde (pork cracklings in tomatillo sauce) to tinga de pollo (chicken in a chipotle tomato sauce). 

Quesadilla

This is one of those popular dishes in Mexico that only vaguely resembles the ones served at restaurants in the United States. The versions you will find in places like Mexico city are made with corn tortillas that are cooked to order.

They are oval in shape and can be stuffed with whatever filling the vendor is serving that day including variations with fresh squash blossoms to pressed chicharron that is cooked in a guajillo chili sauce.

Don’t be surprised if the quesadilla that you order isn’t stuffed with cheese as most fillings do not contain the melty stuff.

Mexican Desserts | Mexico Foods

Nieves

This frozen dessert is similar to hand-churned ice cream but instead of using cream or milk, they use water as the base of this treat.

Each region has its specialty flavors that range from the bright red prickly pear to burnt milk that has a smokey sweet flavor.

Many nieves shops can have as many as forty flavors available on any day. Due to its watery nature, it is usually served in a cup with some vendors offering up fancy versions topped with different syrups and sometimes chili powder.

Marquesitas

Street vendors all over the Yucatan peninsula sell this made-to-order dessert from their carts that feature a built-in griddle that presses the batter as it cooks from both sides.

The vendor then removes the crepe and rolls it quickly before it starts to cool and gets crispy. It is then topped and stuffed with a wide variety of ingredients from fresh fruit, condensed milk, nutella, cajeta (caramelized goat milk), and the most traditional queso de bola (edam cheese).  

Tips to find the best traditional foods in Mexico

You have several options for finding amazing food when visiting Mexico, but the good news is that it’s pretty easy to find something delicious.

If you stick with these few tips and tricks you will be eating some authentic Mexican food no matter what part of the country you visit.

• Ask a local – Simply ask anyone that you meet at bars, restaurants, or even your Airbnb host for recommendations for places that the locals eat.
• A long line is a good sign – If you see a street cart that has a line with locals, the food smells good, and they are cooking the food on the spot, take a chance and give it a try.
• Steer clear from tourist spots – most restaurants in the surrounding area will be catering to tourists. Walk a few blocks away to have better chances of finding local food.
• Visit a market – Most busy markets have a combination of raw ingredients and food stalls that serve prepared food to the workers and visitors. The food is usually really good.
• Visit a street food area or food hall – These places have the competitive edge where the vendors are cooking for their share of the patrons. To survive, the food must be delicious.

Related: Dining Etiquette in Mexico

Where to Eat the Best of Mexican Cuisine

There is amazing food to be found in every region in Mexico but we naturally have our favorites. Whether you want to eat crispy fish tacos in Baja, or try the 7 moles famous moles of Oaxaca, there is a region just right for any palate. Here are our favorite food regions and cities in Mexico.

• Mexico City – The taco capital of Mexico with varieties from around the whole country
• Oaxaca – Famous for it’s 7 moles and Mezcal.
• Yucatan – The masters of slow-roasted pork and fiery hot habanero salsas.
• Baja California – Crispy fish and shrimp tacos, and world-class wine.
• Norteno – Grilled skirt steak and queso fresco
• Puebla – Known as the culinary center of Mexico for its mole poblano and barbacoa.

A Mission to Try the Most Popular Foods in Mexico

This list of the best foods in Mexico is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all of the amazing and delicious food that can be found in this historic and beautiful country.

We traveled through Mexico tasting all of these dishes, and now it’s your turn to eat your way through all of the best dishes Mexico has to offer. 

If you have a trip in the works or you are just starting to find your inspiration for your next vacation, we got you covered.

With our in-depth guides to the best dishes, restaurants, and culinary tours, you will not miss even a single delicious Mexican dish while on your trip. 

Now, how many of the dishes on this list are you going to try?